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MONT-SAINT-MICHEL, FRANCE—German rider Tony Martin won the the 11th stage of the Tour de France and second-place Chris Froome finished way ahead of his main rivals to significantly strengthen his overall lead Wednesday.

As the two-time world time trial champion, Martin did not disappoint over the 33-kilometre route in Normandy from Avranches to the medieval walled town of Mont-Saint-Michel.

Froome was quicker over the first two time splits but slowed down in the last section and rolled in 12 seconds slower than Martin, who won in just over 36 minutes.

“My biggest race today was with the other GC riders,” Froome said. “I’ve extended my lead today so I’m very happy with that. Hats off to Tony Martin for winning that stage, it just goes to show what class he has.”

Froome was the only rider to get within a minute of Martin, with Belgian Thomas De Gendt 1:01 behind in third.

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While Martin is not a Tour challenger, others who are supposed to be slipped further behind.

Alejandro Valverde and two-time former champion Alberto Contador were two minutes or more slower than Froome, while 2010 champ Andy Schleck and 2011 champ Cadel Evans all lost massive time.

Valverde is still in second place overall but 3:25 adrift. Contador improved to fourth but is 3:54 behind.

“I’m happy with my shape,” Froome said. “I think I’ve shown in the mountains that I can hold my own, and time trial also. I’m very happy with that.”

Contador looked stern-faced and tense when he prepared to start — and with good reason. The Spaniard finished in 15th place, 2:15 behind Martin; Evans was 2:30 slower, and Schleck finished 4:44 behind Martin.

“No one’s won the Tour de France yet and no one’s lost it. We have to get to Paris yet,” Contador said. “It’s true that Chris Froome is in impressive form and is a great climber, but there are still many stages left.”

Even though Evans is 6:54 behind Froome in 14th place, he has not given up.

“I couldn’t get the best out of myself,” the Australian said. “I think we will get a few chances, and in the last four days (of the race) we will give everything.”

Martin, meanwhile, was lucky to even still be in the race after losing consciousness on his team bus after his heavy crash on stage 1. It was so bad that his left lung was bruised and layers of skin were shredded off his back, preventing him from sleeping properly for several nights.

“It’s pretty much OK. There are still some deeper wounds that are left to heal but it’s not that painful anymore like directly after the crash,” Martin said. “(Today) the feeling was good. I was just focused on the race. It was more or less like every time trial.”

Martin won the penultimate stage of the 2011 Tour, a time trail, and finished second to Bradley Wiggins in the time trial at the Olympic Games last year in London.

Victoria’s Ryder Hesjedal remained the top Canadian in the overall classification in 41st place, 32:38 behind Froome. Quebec City’s David Veilleux was 130th overall, while Tuft was 178th.

Wednesday’s ride started in Avranches, whose website dates the town’s origins to Celts in the 9th century B.C. It ended at the breathtaking island citadel of Mont-Saint-Michel, a World Heritage site because of the Gothic-style Benedictine abbey erected between the 11th and 16th centuries. It is 80 metres tall and upward of three million visitors take in the panoramic view from its ramparts every year.

But there was little time for Martin to take in the sights with the peloton averaging 55 km-h humid, muggy conditions.

“Yes, that’s true I think. I was behind him. I didn’t see it, but I think it’s true,” the team press officer Alessandro Tegner said.

Tegner said the liquid smelled like urine and it was “all over him,” and said Cavendish talked about the incident after the time trial.

“That’s really disappointing to hear,” Froome said. “To do something disrespectful like that is really sad and ruins the whole atmosphere.”

Thursday’s 12th stage is one of two consecutive flat days for sprinters, taking the riders on a 218-kilometre route from Fougeres to Tours in the Loire valley, a picturesque region peppered with imposing, ancient chateaux, and vineyards.

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